Technology solutions firm Intel Malaysia has launched a PC adoption campaign that targets more than 150, 000 Malaysians in 55 cities in 12 states in the country.

Speaking in Melaka on 20 July 2011, Intel Malaysia country manager, sales and marketing, Prakash Mallya, said the six-month initiative was intended to speed up the rate of PC adoption in under-served communities in the country and involved roadshows to various locations.

"It is evident that most people in the under-served communities do not see the relevance of PCs and the Internet in their day-to-day lives," said Mallya. "However, if every Malaysian is to contribute actively in a knowledge-based economy, then very clearly more Malaysians need to have access to computing devices that will connect them to the Internet."

Mallya said the initiative was also supported by Intel's ecosystem partners such as Toshiba, Lenovo, HP, Acer, Samsung, Asus, Celcom, P1 and YTL Communication. "During the campaign, visitors to the Enter aje! mobile showcase truck will be able to discover how PCs can help them in a variety of daily tasks and activities. These include, among others, the ability to access news, entertainment and general information from the Internet; enhance learning and education; automate business transactions; and facilitate trade and commerce for small business operators."

"Based on a study conducted by the Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry Malaysia (PIKOM) entitled, 'ICT Strategic Review 2010/11 E-commerce for Global Reach', it was discovered that the main deterrent to ICT adoption among people in under-served communities is because of their lack of knowledge in using a PC and the Internet," he said.

The PIKOM survey involved 1,020 respondents from 552 households representing various under-served communities in Malaysia. "[This showed that] 42 percent of respondents said the reason for not using a PC is because they did not know how to do so. Similarly, 48 percent of the same respondents indicated that they did not know how to use or leverage the Internet."

"Through this Enter aje! campaign, Intel together with its ecosystem partners are committed to support the Malaysian government's agenda to drive connectivity, increase awareness of ICT, and promote PC usage and its benefits among the under-served communities in the country," said Mallya.

The Speaker for the State Assembly of Melaka, Datuk Wira Othman Muhamad, who officiated the launch and flagged off the Enter aje! mobile showcase truck at SMK Seri Mahkota, urged all residents of Melaka to welcome the Enter aje! campaign as yet another initiative that will help drive the state's economic growth and ICT adoption rate.